Dou Zhao silently clicked her tongue, feeling relieved that she had followed Song Mo’s arrangement and not interfered with Song Han’s marriage. Otherwise, as Song Han’s sister-in-law, she would have been among the women urging the bride to hurry.
That would have been truly embarrassing!
She said to Ganlu, who was directing the maids and servants to pack things: “The auspicious time for the Second Young Master is at the hour of You. After we return tomorrow, stay in Yizhi Hall and don’t come out. If anyone asks, say you’re taking care of Young Master Yuan.”
Tomorrow was Song Han’s wedding. Her excuse of being unable to help due to having a young child might barely pass, but it would be unacceptable if she couldn’t even attend Song Han’s ceremony.
After discussing with Song Mo, she decided to return to the mansion early tomorrow morning.
Ganlu smiled and agreed, directing Fufeng to pack Young Master Yuan’s two small quilts into a camphor wood box carved with the five blessings and longevity symbols.
Gu Yu came to visit Young Master Yuan.
Dou Zhao asked curiously, “Does he know the Young Master isn’t here?”
Ruorong smiled and said, “He knows. He said he came to see Young Master Yuan.”
There was no reason to stop him now.
Dou Zhao had Ruorong bring Gu Yu in.
Gu Yu brought a windmill for the child, along with a rattle and other small toys. Each was exquisitely crafted, especially the windmill, which was a full three feet tall with eighteen arhats carved on it. Each arhat held a small windmill, and with a single breath, all eighteen windmills would spin, filling the ears with a rustling sound. It was no ordinary item.
Dou Zhao thanked him profusely.
Gu Yu smiled and said, “It’s the craftsmanship of the imperial workshop. Is it acceptable?”
Dou Zhao always felt that Gu Yu was like a child lacking love, particularly concerned about others’ reactions to him. So she smiled and praised, “Acceptable? It’s simply ingenious! Thank you for your thoughtfulness.”
“I had nothing else to do,” Gu Yu said nonchalantly, though his brows betrayed his pride. “I happened to encounter someone from the imperial workshop delivering books to my aunt, so I had the sudden idea to make these things for Young Master Yuan. They’re quite rough; I’ll have people make some more interesting things for Young Master Yuan later.”
Dou Zhao smiled and nodded, preparing to excuse herself, but Gu Yu stopped her.
He hesitated and said, “Sister-in-law, has something happened that I don’t know about? I was at Duke Ying’s mansion today, and Feng Shao and the others were unwilling to go and urged the bride to hurry. It was only when Uncle personally selected Song Duo and a few others that they reluctantly gathered four people. Brother also made excuses to stay in the front courtyard’s small hall to accompany the visiting uncles…
And sister-in-law, you’ve been staying in Jing’an Temple Alley with Young Master Yuan… Lady Lu and Princess Ningde didn’t go either… It’s so different from when my brother got married. Back then, people in bright red official robes were coming and going, and the women had all gathered the day before to urge the bride. The house was decorated with lanterns and streamers, bustling with noise and music… Now, even though the servants and maids are smiling, there’s no joy in their eyes. Out of sixty tables for the banquet, only about twenty are filled, leaving more than half empty…”
Dou Zhao was very surprised.
It seemed that the news of Song Han possibly being an illegitimate child had spread, and some people, considering their status, were unwilling to attend Song Han’s wedding.
Some things are just like this – everyone else knows, but the person involved is still in the dark.
People in the capital knew that Gu Yu and Song Mo were close friends, so no one would mention Song Han’s situation in front of Gu Yu.
But paper can’t wrap fire, and Song Mo’s attitude towards this matter was so clear that it would eventually spread. Rather than letting Gu Yu hear it from others and feel that Song Mo didn’t trust him, it was better to take this opportunity to tell him directly.
Dou Zhao pretended to ponder: “There’s something your Brother Tianci is too embarrassed to tell you. When you hear it, you should pretend not to know.”
Song Mo has moments of embarrassment?
Gu Yu’s eyes immediately lit up, and he pleaded, “Good sister-in-law, please tell me! I promise to keep it to myself and not tell anyone!” He then swore an oath.
Dou Zhao saw that he was still childish and couldn’t help but smile. She lowered her voice and told Gu Yu about Jiang Yan’s situation.
Gu Yu listened and drew in a sharp breath. After a while, he said, “I thought I was pitiful, but I didn’t expect there to be someone even more pitiful…”
His words were heartbreaking to hear.
Dou Zhao let out a long sigh.
Suddenly, Gu Yu jumped up, his brows furrowed in anger: “And Brother Tianci still lets that bastard Song Han pretend to be his brother? I’m going to beat that kid up right now, to vent some anger for Brother Tianci! Then I’ll tell the palace about this and have the Emperor remove Song Han’s status…”
“Please don’t act rashly!” Dou Zhao was startled by his intense reaction and quickly said, “Your Brother Tianci has already made arrangements for this matter. We must not disrupt his plans.” She continued, “The midwives who attended my mother-in-law and Lady Li Yao’s births both passed away from illness fifteen years ago. Those wet nurses and servants who were around either knew nothing or were gone or missing. We have no evidence and can only proceed slowly. Moreover, your Brother Tianci is, after all, the heir of Duke Ying’s mansion. If this matter becomes public, it would be killing a thousand enemies but losing eight hundred of our own. In the end, it would be your Brother Tianci who loses face. We can only find other excuses to avenge mother-in-law.”
Hearing this, Gu Yu’s emotions calmed somewhat, but he still said resentfully, “It’s hateful that this approach isn’t righteous enough, and it still allows that kid to bear the name of Duke Ying’s legitimate line.”
“There are no perfect solutions in this world,” Dou Zhao advised him. “We can only look for opportunities in the future.”
Gu Yu nodded, then suddenly let out two “hehe” laughs, which alarmed Dou Zhao. She asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Such an interesting thing has happened with Song Han’s marriage,” he said, raising his eyebrows with a look of schadenfreude. “How can the noble ones in the palace not know about it? I’m going to the palace right now to tell my aunt about this. If the Empress Dowager is there, that would be even better, saving me the trouble of finding someone to spread the news to Cining Palace.” With that, he ran off excitedly, not waiting for Dou Zhao to respond.
He came like a gust of wind and left like one too.
Dou Zhao shook her head, thinking of Gu Yu’s earlier expression, and couldn’t help but curl her lips in a smile.
That night, Song Mo came very late.
Dou Zhao thought he wouldn’t come at all and had already gone to bed with the child.
Song Mo washed up, chewed a few tea leaves to freshen his breath, and then went to the inner chamber to see Dou Zhao and Young Master Yuan.
Their faces were flushed red from sleep, Dou Zhao’s like a blooming cotton flower, and Young Master Yuan’s cheeks like apples.
Song Mo felt a softness in his heart. He sat on the edge of the bed, gently stroking Dou Zhao’s temples, then leaned over to kiss Young Master Yuan.
Dou Zhao was startled awake and sat up with a smile: “You’re back! There’s hangover soup prepared in the kitchen, do you want some?”
Song Mo nodded.
Dou Zhao instructed the night-duty maid to bring the hangover soup.
The couple, one sitting on the bed’s edge and the other leaning against the headboard, began to chat.
“Gu Yu came to see Young Master Yuan today and brought several ingenious toys for him,” Dou Zhao told Song Mo everything she had discussed with Gu Yu.
Song Mo smiled bitterly and said, “I should have told him about this matter earlier. I indeed found it difficult to bring up. It’s good that you took this opportunity to tell him.” He then let out a long sigh.
Dou Zhao changed the subject, saying, “Gu Yu said the house is very quiet.”
Song Mo nodded and said, “It’s probably the quietest celebratory event Duke Ying’s mansion has had in years. Father not only couldn’t find respectable people to preside over the wedding, but even those urging the bride were of low rank. Even Song Duo was dragged in to make up the numbers, not to mention the others.”
“Some things are just like this,” Dou Zhao said. “When the rank of those presiding over the wedding is low, those of noble status will think twice before deciding whether to attend the wedding.”
As she was speaking, the maid brought in the hangover soup.
Young Master Yuan woke up, his little hand forming an orchid finger pose against his cheek.
Song Mo quickly drank the soup and started playing with Young Master Yuan, patting his hands.
Dou Zhao pushed him: “Be careful not to wake him up completely, or none of us will be able to sleep tonight.”
“Then we’ll just play with him!” Song Mo said nonchalantly. “Isn’t that what all the people in the house are for?” He held Young Master Yuan upright and talked to him, “Did you wake up because you knew daddy was back? What did you do today? Did you listen to Mommy? Uncle Gu came to see you and brought you a big windmill…”
He had someone bring in the windmill and entertained Young Master Yuan by blowing it, showing infinite patience.
Song Mo will be a good father!
Dou Zhao watched the father and son, her eyes slightly moist.
The next day, Dou Zhao yawned as she got into the carriage.
Young Master Yuan, however, slept well back in Duke Ying’s mansion.
There weren’t many guests staying overnight at Duke Ying’s mansion, and those who did were mostly Song Yichun’s classmates from when he took the provincial examinations.
The stewards, maids, and servants of Duke Ying’s mansion were all at the main gate to welcome them.
Dou Zhao smiled and nodded to several head stewards and matrons then returned to Yizhi Hall in a soft sedan chair.
After being away from home for almost a month, the air in the room had become cool and fresh.
Ganlu and others nimbly and systematically took out and arranged the things that Dou Zhao and Young Master Yuan usually used.
Jiang Yan came over with her maid, Yinghong.
She looked at Dou Zhao, her eyes bright: “Sister-in-law, you’re finally back!”
Dou Zhao had originally wanted to bring Jiang Yan back to Jing’an Temple Alley, but Jiang Yan was unwilling, so Dou Zhao left Jingui at the mansion.
Seeing Jiang Yan’s rosy complexion, she nodded inwardly and smiled, asking Ruorong to open the trunk and take out the fabrics she had bought for Jiang Yan. She said, “I heard these are the latest fashions from Jiangnan. Although they can’t compare to what’s bestowed from the palace, they excel in novel patterns. Take them to make a few autumn outfits, and when the Double Ninth Festival comes, we’ll go mountain climbing together.”
The few pieces of fabric all had base colors like bean green and scarlet red, dotted with cherries or small flowers, looking more lively and fresh compared to the usual brocades.
Jiang Yan knew that Dou Zhao had carefully chosen these for her. She mumbled, not knowing what to say, and after a long pause, she blurted out, “Sister-in-law, let me help you look after the young master.”
Dou Zhao couldn’t help but laugh, finding Jiang Yan even more adorable. She had Ganlu take Jiang Yan to the small side room where Young Master Yuan was resting.
Suxin and Sulan led the women from the east wing to pay their respects to Dou Zhao.
Dou Zhao chatted with them for a while.
By the time the room quieted down, it was time for lunch.
However, there was no movement from Xixiang Court.
Ruozhu, who had stayed in the mansion, whispered, “Only a dozen or so guests came to attend the ceremony, even fewer than yesterday. The Duke is currently in a rage!”
Dou Zhao asked, “What about the women?”
“Just some scholars’ wives and a few wives of chief clerks from the Five Commander Guards.”
Dou Zhao thought for a moment and said, “Then we’ll have lunch here in Yizhi Hall!”